Editing Hezbollah (section)

=== Conflict with Israel ===

{{Main|Iran–Israel proxy conflict}}
[[File:Hezbollah parade Lebanon.jpg|thumb|Hezbollah members and supporters parade following the end of the [[Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon]], May 2000]]

On 25 July 1993, following Hezbollah's killing of seven Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon, Israel launched [[Operation Accountability]], known in Lebanon as the Seven Day War, during which the IDF carried out their heaviest artillery and air attacks on targets in southern Lebanon since 1982. The aim of the operation was to eradicate the threat posed by Hezbollah and to force the civilian population north to Beirut so as to put pressure on the Lebanese Government to restrain Hezbollah.<ref name="OA">{{cite web|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3284732,00.html |title=Operation Accountability – Increased Israeli casualties led to Operation Accountability in 1993 |publisher=Ynet.co.il |date=25 July 1993 |access-date=21 May 2011}}</ref> The fighting ended when an unwritten understanding was agreed to by the warring parties. Apparently, the 1993 understanding provided that Hezbollah combatants would not fire rockets at northern Israel, while Israel would not attack civilians or civilian targets in Lebanon.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=BBC News |url=http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/engMDE150421996|title=Israel/Lebanon, Unlawful Killings During Operation 'Grapes of Wrath' |date=24 July 1996|access-date=24 October 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071020030018/http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/engMDE150421996 |archive-date = 20 October 2007}}</ref>

In April 1996, after continued Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israeli civilians,<ref name="MidEastWeb">{{cite web|url=http://www.mideastweb.org/megrapes.htm |title=The Grapes of Wrath Understanding |publisher=Mideastweb.org |access-date=27 January 2011}}</ref> the Israeli armed forces launched [[Operation Grapes of Wrath]], which was intended to wipe out Hezbollah's base in southern Lebanon. Over 100 Lebanese refugees were [[1996 shelling of Qana|killed by the shelling]] of a UN base at [[Qana]], in what the Israeli military said was a mistake.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/72493.stm|title=History of Israel's role in Lebanon |date=1 April 1998|access-date=24 October 2007}}</ref>

Following several days of negotiations, the two sides signed the [[Israeli-Lebanese Ceasefire Understanding|Grapes of Wrath Understandings]] on 26 April 1996. A cease-fire was agreed upon between Israel and Hezbollah, which would be effective on 27 April 1996.<ref name="cobbanBR30_2">[[Helena Cobban|Cobban, Helena]], {{cite web|url=http://bostonreview.net/BR30.2/cobban.html|title=Hizbullah's New Face|work=Boston Review|access-date=2 February 2007|date=April–May 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203070822/http://bostonreview.net/BR30.2/cobban.html|archive-date=3 February 2007}}</ref> Both sides agreed that civilians should not be targeted, which meant that Hezbollah would be allowed to continue its military activities against IDF forces inside Lebanon.<ref name="cobbanBR30_2" />

==== 2000 Hezbollah cross-border raid ====
{{Main|2000 Hezbollah cross-border raid}}
On 7 October 2000, three Israeli soldiers—Adi Avitan, Staff Sgt. Benyamin Avraham, and Staff Sgt. Omar Sawaidwere—were abducted by Hezbollah while patrolling the [[Blue Line (Lebanon)|border]] between the [[Israeli-occupied territories|Israeli-occupied]] [[Golan Heights]] and [[Lebanon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/2/Israelis%20Held%20by%20the%20Hizbullah%20-%20Oct%202000-Jan%202004 |title=Israelis Held by the Hizbullah – October 2000 – January 2004 |publisher=[[mfa.gov.il]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421053944/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/2/Israelis%20Held%20by%20the%20Hizbullah%20-%20Oct%202000-Jan%202004 |archive-date=21 April 2013 }}</ref> The soldiers were killed either during the attack or in its immediate aftermath.<ref name="CNN Prisoner Swap">{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/01/29/prisoner.exchange/|title=Israel, Hezbollah swap prisoners|publisher=CNN |date=29 January 2004 |access-date=2 April 2010}}</ref> Israel Defense Minister [[Shaul Mofaz]] said that Hezbollah abducted the soldiers and then killed them.<ref>Stevn, Yoav and Eli Ashkenazi. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/758645.html "New film leaves parents in the dark on sons' fate during kidnap"]. ''[[Haaretz]]''. 6 September 2006. 28 February 2008.</ref> The bodies of the slain soldiers were exchanged for Lebanese prisoners in 2004.<ref name="CNN Prisoner Swap"/>

==== 2006 Lebanon War ====
{{Main|2006 Lebanon War}}
[[File:Hizbollah posters 2006.jpg|thumb|Hezbollah posters in the aftermath of the 2006 Lebanon War]]

The 2006 Lebanon War was a 34-day military conflict in Lebanon and northern Israel. The principal parties were Hezbollah [[paramilitary]] forces and the Israeli military. The conflict was precipitated by a cross-border raid during which Hezbollah kidnapped and killed Israeli soldiers. [[Zar'it-Shtula incident|The conflict began]] on 12 July 2006 when Hezbollah militants fired [[List of artillery#Rockets|rockets]] at Israeli border towns as a diversion for an [[anti-tank missile]] attack on two armored [[Humvee]]s patrolling the Israeli side of the border fence, killing three, injuring two, and seizing two Israeli soldiers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/July_War06.asp |title=Timeline of the July War 2006 |newspaper=The Daily Star |access-date=22 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210085022/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/July_War06.asp |archive-date=10 December 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/18/2307095.htm?site=news | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430073208/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/18/2307095.htm?site=news | url-status=dead | archive-date=30 April 2011 | title=Israel buries soldiers recovered in prisoner swap | publisher=ABC News | access-date=22 January 2015| date=17 July 2008 }}</ref>

Israel responded with [[airstrike]]s and [[artillery]] fire on targets in Lebanon that damaged Lebanese infrastructure, including Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport, which Israel said that Hezbollah used to import weapons and supplies,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/13/mideast/index.html|title= Israeli warplanes hit Beirut suburb|publisher=CNN|date=14 July 2006}}</ref> an air and naval [[blockade]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/23/AR2006082301671.html|title=Lebanese Premier Seeks U.S. Help in Lifting Blockade|date=24 August 2006|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | first=Edward| last=Cody| access-date=2 April 2010}}</ref> and a ground invasion of [[southern Lebanon]]. Hezbollah then launched more rockets into northern Israel and engaged the Israel Defense Forces in [[guerrilla warfare]] from hardened positions.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/israel/Story/0,,1842276,00.html| title=Computerised weaponry and high morale| first=Conal| last=Urquhart |date=11 August 2006|work=The Guardian |location=UK |access-date=8 October 2006 }}</ref>

The war continued until 14 August 2006. Hezbollah was responsible for thousands of [[Katyusha rocket launcher|Katyusha]] rocket attacks against Israeli civilian towns and cities in northern Israel,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aijac.org.au/resources/hezb_00-06.html|title=Hezbollah Attacks Since May 2000|author=Bard, Mitchell|publisher=[[AIJAC]]|date=24 July 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060819122710/http://aijac.org.au/resources/hezb_00-06.html|archive-date=19 August 2006}}</ref> which Hezbollah said were in retaliation for Israel's killing of civilians and targeting Lebanese infrastructure.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-widens-bombing-campaign-as-lebanese-militia-groups-retaliate-407859.html |title=Israel widens bombing campaign as Lebanese militia groups retaliate |work=The Independent |location=UK |date=14 July 2006 |access-date=27 January 2011 |first1=Donald |last1=MacIntyre |first2=Eric |last2=Silver |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125233429/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-widens-bombing-campaign-as-lebanese-militia-groups-retaliate-407859.html |archive-date=25 January 2014 }}</ref> The conflict is believed to have killed 1,191–1,300 Lebanese citizens including combatants<ref name="independent.co.uk">{{cite news |title=Cloud of Syria's war hangs over Lebanese cleric's death |first=Robert |last=Fisk |author-link=Robert Fisk |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/cloud-of-syrias-war-hangs-over-lebanese-clerics-death-7771366.html |newspaper=The Independent |date=22 May 2012 |access-date=17 May 2013 |location=London |archive-date=2 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402112123/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/cloud-of-syrias-war-hangs-over-lebanese-clerics-death-7771366.html }}</ref><ref>Reuters, 12 September 2006; Al-Hayat (London), 13 September 2006</ref><ref name="Lebanon 2006 pp. 3-6">"Country Report{{snd}}Lebanon", The Economist Intelligence Unit, no. 4 (2006), pp.&nbsp;3–6.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Lebanon's pain grows by the hour as death toll hits 1,300 |first=Robert |last=Fisk |author-link=Robert Fisk |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-lebanons-pain-grows-by-the-hour-as-death-toll-hits-1300-412170.html |newspaper=The Independent |date=17 August 2006 |access-date=17 May 2013 |location=London}}</ref><ref name="LUS">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.lebanonundersiege.gov.lb/english/F/Main/index.asp
 |title=Lebanon Under Siege
 |access-date=30 August 2008
 |date=9 November 2006
 |publisher=Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Higher Relief Council (Lebanon)
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927025252/http://www.lebanonundersiege.gov.lb/english/F/Main/index.asp
 |archive-date=27 September 2006
 }}</ref> and 165 Israelis including soldiers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Katz |first1=Yaakov |last2=Hendel |first2=Yoaz |title=Israel Vs. Iran: The Shadow War |date=2012 |publisher=Potomac Books, Inc. |isbn=9781597978866 |url=https://books.google.de/books?id=tOqm7DVyyoMC |page=17| access-date=14 May 2025}}</ref>

==== 2010 gas field claims ====
In 2010, Hezbollah claimed that the Dalit and [[Tamar gas field]], discovered by [[Noble Energy]] roughly {{convert|50|mi|km}} west of [[Haifa]] in Israeli exclusive economic zone, belong to Lebanon, and warned Israel against extracting gas from them. Senior officials from Hezbollah warned that they would not hesitate to use weapons to defend Lebanon's natural resources. Figures in the [[March 14 Forces]] stated in response that Hezbollah was presenting another excuse to hold on to its arms. Lebanese MP [[Antoine Zahra (legislator)|Antoine Zahra]] said that the issue is another item "in the endless list of excuses" meant to justify the continued existence of Hezbollah's arsenal.<ref>H. Varulkar, "[http://www.memri.org/report/en/print4441.htm Internal Conflict in Lebanon Over Control of Oil and Gas Resources]", MEMRI, Inquiry & Analysis Series Report No. 624 (12 July 2010). Retrieved 5 May 2013.</ref>

==== 2011 attack in Istanbul ====
In July 2011, Italian newspaper ''Corriere della Sera'' reported, based on American and Turkish sources,<ref name="consul" /> that Hezbollah was behind a bombing in Istanbul in May 2011 that wounded eight Turkish civilians. The report said that the attack was an assassination attempt on the Israeli consul to Turkey, Moshe Kimchi. Turkish intelligence sources denied the report and said, "Israel is in the habit of creating disinformation campaigns using different papers."<ref name="consul">
<blockquote>Quoting Washington sources, the paper said the attack was meant to avenge the death of Iranian nuclear scientist Masoud Ali Mohammadi who was killed last year.&nbsp;... Turkish intelligence first attributed the Istanbul attack&nbsp;... to the Kurdish resistance, but later concluded that Hezbollah, working on behalf of Iran, had organized it. According to the report, three Hezbollah operatives arrived in Istanbul from Beirut to assassinate Kimchi.</blockquote>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4096901,00.html "Report: Hezbollah tried to kill Israeli consul."] ''Ynetnews''. 18 July 2011.</ref>

==== 2012 planned attack in Cyprus ====
{{Main|2012 Cyprus terrorist plot}}
In July 2012, a Lebanese man was detained by Cyprus police on possible charges relating to terrorism laws for planning attacks against Israeli tourists. According to security officials, the man was planning attacks for Hezbollah in Cyprus and admitted this after questioning. The police were alerted about the man due to an urgent message from Israeli intelligence. The Lebanese man was in possession of photographs of Israeli targets and had information on Israeli airlines flying back and forth from Cyprus, and planned to blow up a plane or tour bus.<ref name=Haaretz5>{{cite news|last=Ravid|first=Barak|title=Man detained in Cyprus was planning attack on Israeli targets for Hezbollah|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/man-detained-in-cyprus-was-planning-attack-on-israeli-targets-for-hezbollah-1.451000|access-date=15 July 2012|newspaper=Haaretz|date=14 July 2012}}</ref> Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Iran assisted the Lebanese man with planning the attacks.<ref name=Ynet7>{{cite news|title=PMO: Iran connected to Hezbollah activity in Cyprus|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4255300,00.html|access-date=15 July 2012|newspaper=Yedioth Ahronot|date=14 July 2012}}</ref>

==== 2012 Burgas attack ====
{{Main|2012 Burgas bus bombing}}
Following an investigation into the 2012 Burgas bus bombing terrorist attack against Israeli citizens in [[Bulgaria]], the Bulgarian government officially accused the Lebanese-militant movement Hezbollah of committing the attack.<ref name="reuters1">Tsvetelia Tsolova, "[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bulgaria-bombing-idUSBRE9140TZ20130205 Bulgaria blames Hezbollah in bomb attack on Israeli tourists]", {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015233342/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/05/us-bulgaria-bombing-idUSBRE9140TZ20130205 |date=15 October 2015 }} Reuters (5 February 2013). Retrieved 5 May 2013.</ref> Five Israeli citizens, the Bulgarian bus driver, and the bomber were killed. The bomb exploded as the Israeli tourists boarded a bus from the airport to their hotel.

[[Tsvetan Tsvetanov]], Bulgaria's interior minister, reported that the two suspects responsible were members of the militant wing of Hezbollah; he said the suspected terrorists entered Bulgaria on 28 June and remained until 18 July. Israel had already previously suspected Hezbollah for the attack. Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] called the report "further corroboration of what we have already known, that Hezbollah and its [[Iran]]ian patrons are orchestrating a worldwide campaign of terror that is spanning countries and continents".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-unlikely-to-retaliate-after-bulgaria-report/|title=Israel unlikely to retaliate after Bulgaria report. Times of Israel. Jan 2013|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> Netanyahu said that the attack in Bulgaria was just one of many that Hezbollah and Iran have planned and carried out, including attacks in Thailand, Kenya, Turkey, India, Azerbaijan, Cyprus and Georgia.<ref name="reuters1" />

[[John O. Brennan|John Brennan]], Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, has said that, "Bulgaria's investigation exposes Hezbollah for what it is—a terrorist group that is willing to recklessly attack innocent men, women and children, and that poses a real and growing threat not only to Europe, but to the rest of the world."<ref name="jpost1">{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=302198|title=Bulgaria: Hezbollah behind Burgas attack|date=5 February 2013 |access-date=6 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206075459/http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=302198|archive-date=6 February 2013}}</ref> The result of the Bulgarian investigation comes at a time when Israel has been petitioning the European Union to join the United States in designating Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.<ref name="jpost1" />

==== 2015 Shebaa farms incident ====
{{Main|January 2015 Shebaa farms incident}}
In response to [[January 2015 Mazraat Amal incident|an attack against a military convoy]] comprising Hezbollah and Iranian officers on 18 January 2015 at Quneitra in south of Syria, Hezbollah launched an ambush on 28 January against an Israeli military convoy in the Israeli-occupied [[Shebaa Farms]] with [[anti-tank missile]]s against two Israeli vehicles patrolling the border,<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/tel-aviv-diary-netanyahu-loses-his-security-edge-302676 "Tel Aviv Diary: Netanyahu Loses His Security Edge"], Marc Schulman, 1/28/15, ''Newsweek''</ref> killing 2 and wounding 7 Israeli soldiers and officers, as confirmed by Israeli military.

==== 2023–present Israel–Hezbollah conflict ====

{{Main|Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–present)}}
On 8 October 2023, Hezbollah launched guided rockets and artillery shells at [[Israeli-occupied territories|Israeli-occupied]] positions in [[Shebaa Farms]] during the [[Gaza war]]. Israel retaliated with [[drone strike]]s and artillery fire on Hezbollah positions near the [[Golan Heights]]–Lebanon border. The attacks came after Hezbollah expressed support and praise for the [[Hamas]] attacks on Israel.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Goldenberg|first1=Tia|last2=Shurafa|first2=Wafaa|date=8 October 2023|title=Hezbollah and Israel exchange fire as Israeli soldiers battle Hamas on second day of surprise attack|url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-ca7903976387cfc1e1011ce9ea805a71|access-date=8 October 2023|work=[[Associated Press News]]|archive-date=8 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008051308/https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-ca7903976387cfc1e1011ce9ea805a71|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=8 October 2023|title=Israel, Hezbollah exchange artillery, rocket fire|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-strikes-lebanon-after-hezbollah-hits-shebaa-farms-2023-10-08/|access-date=8 October 2023|archive-date=8 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008065933/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-strikes-lebanon-after-hezbollah-hits-shebaa-farms-2023-10-08/|url-status=live}}</ref> The clashes were the largest escalation between the two countries since the [[2006 Lebanon War]].

In November 2024, a [[2024 Israel–Lebanon ceasefire agreement|ceasefire deal]] was signed between Israel and  Hezbollah to end 13 months of conflict. According to the agreement, Hezbollah was given 60 days to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon and Israeli forces were obliged to withdraw from the area over the same period.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lebanon ceasefire: What we know about Israel-Hezbollah deal |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2d3gj9ewxo |work=www.bbc.com |date=27 November 2024}}</ref> In December 2024, [[Fall of the Assad regime|the fall of Assad’s Baathist regime]] in Syria was  another blow to its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, which was already weakened because of Israeli military actions.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rebeiz |first1=Mireille |title=Assad's fall in Syria will further weaken Hezbollah and curtails Tehran's 'Iranization' of region |url=https://theconversation.com/assads-fall-in-syria-will-further-weaken-hezbollah-and-curtails-tehrans-iranization-of-region-245606 |website=The Conversation |date=11 December 2024}}</ref>

On March 31, 2025 a significant development took place as the [[Lebanese Armed Forces|Lebanese Army]] and [[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon|UNIFIL]] forces entered a major Hezbollah weapons and storage camp in East Zawtar, near the Litani River—one of Hezbollah's largest and most strategic facilities in southern Lebanon. The move follows renewed tensions and Israeli threats to resume military operations, amid accusations of recent rocket fire toward Kiryat Shmona. Joint forces reportedly searched Hezbollah vehicles and found an empty missile launcher. It remains unclear whether Hezbollah consented to the operation. This action is seen as part of efforts to enforce UN Resolution 1701, which calls for disarming illegal groups south of the Litani and reinforcing the army’s presence in the region.<ref>{{Cite web |last=massoud |date=2025-03-31 |title=خاص: الجيش و"اليونيفيل" يدخلان أضخم معسكر أسلحة وتخزين في زوطر الشرقية |url=https://janoubia.com/2025/03/31/%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%B5-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%AE%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A3%D8%B6%D8%AE%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%B9/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=جنوبية |language=ar}}</ref>